UKZN Co-hosts Public Lecture on SA Foreign Policy Issues

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Strengthening the African agenda through AU, BRICS and FOCAC, was the title of a public lecture at UKZN delivered by the Deputy Minister of International Relations and Co-operation, Mr Luwellyn Landers.

The lecture was hosted by the University and the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in collaboration with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

According to ACCORD, the lecture’s focus on the African Union (AU), BRICS and the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation was timely given the hosting by South Africa of the 25^th AU Summit in June; the recent 7^th BRICS Summit and the launch of the ‘BRICS Bank’ in July, and the upcoming Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) in Durban in December.

Landers said: ‘Our identity is not merely on a geographical basis but we fully embrace African values and identity as an African country. In this regard, South Africa will continue to prioritise the development of the African continent through the creation of a peaceful and stable continent as an important impetus for prosperity.’

He added that the role in peace and security initiatives on the continent was well documented. ‘We therefore continue playing a very active part in the Prevention, Management and Resolution of conflict in Africa. South Africa has assumed a leading role in the establishment of the AU’s Peace and Security Architecture.

‘South Africa’s commitment to post conflict reconstruction and development has yielded good results as evidenced in countries such as Sudan; Somalia, the DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Comores and CAR amongst others,’ said Landers.

The lecture coincided with the International Day of Peace.

•   UKZN is an active international university engaged in collaborative projects and partnerships all over the world. In line with its vision of being the Premier University of African Scholarship it supports and intensifies its dedication to the domain of the African Agenda and will work actively towards ecognize its vision of a better Africa. This goes hand-in-hand with strengthening its relationship with Universities located within the AU, BRICS and FOCAC countries.

•   ACCORD is an independent conflict management institute with a 23-year-history of working to bring African solutions to challenges posed by conflict on the continent. From Southern Africa, through the Great Lakes region to the Horn of Africa and West Africa, ACCORD is acknowledged for its work in peace-building, and conflict management, analysis and prevention. ACCORD’s comprehensive peace model is officially recognised by the UN as a viable model for Africa.